Pertl is a graduate of Lawrence as well, where he earned a B.M. in trombone performance and a B.A in English. After receiving a Thomas Watson Fellowship, he traveled to Australia, Tibet, Nepal and India to study the use of harmonics in Australian Aboriginal didjeridu playing and Tibetan sacred chanting. He went on to complete his M.A. in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, before moving to Seattle to undertake his Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Washington. Before completing his degree, he was offered a position as an ethnomusicologist at Microsoft. Pertl, along with a team of other ethnomusicologists, helped pioneer the use of music and sound in multi-media reference titles, by selecting, licensing, and captioning over a thousand music excerpts for Microsoft’s Encarta Encyclopedia, Encarta World Atlas, and Encarta Africana. For ten years, he managed the Media Acquisitions Group, Microsoft’s central resource for selecting, captioning, and licensing all forms of audio, images, and video.  

Throughout his career, Pertl has been a driving force in reimagining the role of music schools in higher education. His book, Radically Responsive Music Schools: Leading Change Through Culture Building, is a philosophical reimagining of university-level music school culture from the ground up. It argues that holistic cultural change is the key factor needed for music schools to prepare 21st-century graduates for contemporary challenges. Under Pertl’s leadership, the Lawrence Conservatory of Music became known for its forward-thinking approach to music education, rooted in his philosophy of Deep Listening—a practice developed by composer Pauline Oliveros that emphasizes heightened awareness and inclusivity in musical engagement.

Adrian is an Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of the Gospel Choir at the University of Minnesota. His passion for diversity and equity is amplified in his published dissertation: “Underrepresentation of African Americans in Music Positions at Predominantly White Institutions: A Multi-Narrative Case Study.” His current research continues to launch deeper into diversity and equity, with an emphasis in critical pedagogies, amplifying marginalized and racially minoritized voices, and democratizing K-12 and post-secondary pathways in music education. 

He is an actively engaged member of the National Executive Board for the National Association of Music Education (NAfME), serving on the Equity Committee. He is also an active member of the other professional arts organizations, such as the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), and the Association for Popular Music Education (APME).

One of the world’s leading voices on arts entrepreneurship training, Cutler’s acclaimed books The Savvy Musician and The Savvy Music Teacher—which provide tools for amplifying income, impact, and innovation—have shaped a generation of artists. His recent title The Savvy Musician 2.0 is the most comprehensive resource available on music careers and entrepreneurship.

Cutler is also revered as a facilitator. Known for leading immersive “innovation GAMEs,” his powerful, team-based experiences empower arts, education, and business communities to solve creative challenges while becoming better collaborators. His full-color, illustrated book The GAME of Innovation guides readers to conquer complex challenges, align teams behind shared visions, and invent the extraordinary.

Cutler serves as Distinguished Professor of Music Entrepreneurship and Innovation at University of South Carolina. He is a member of the Liberty Fellowship and Aspen Global Leadership Network, associations aimed at building a more just society.

His recording New Beginnings features the London Jazz Orchestra performing a program of his works. Books include Music Theory Through Improvisation (Routledge), Black Music Matters, (Rowman and Littlefield), and Improvisation, Creativity and Consciousness (SUNY Albany), the first book to apply to music principles of Integral Theory. His newest book is Music Studies and Its Moment of Truth: Leading Change Through America’s Black Music Roots (Routledge).

He is on the Advisory Board and a Founding member of the Society for Consciousness Studies, and Founder of the International Society for Improvised Music. He has designed innovative curricula, including BFA in Jazz and Contemplative Studies, and DMA in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation.

Her career spans multiple facets of the education ecosystem — from student lending and statewide retention initiatives to academic publishing — providing her with a uniquely holistic and systems-level perspective on the evolving needs of students, educators, and institutions. Known for her ability to connect strategy with execution, Amy brings creativity, clarity, and thoughtful leadership to complex institutional environments.

Before joining Yamaha, Amy worked with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, where she led impactful initiatives focused on student success, access, and retention. Her work in educational publishing further strengthened her ability to translate innovation into practical solutions that support teaching, learning, and institutional outcomes.

In addition to her leadership at Yamaha, Amy serves as a Professor of Music Industry Studies at the University of South Carolina, where she bridges real-world industry experience with academic instruction. She is deeply committed to mentoring emerging leaders and empowering students to navigate and shape the future of the music and creative industries.

Amy’s leadership is defined by strategic vision, collaborative problem-solving, and a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives. Her ability to align people, purpose, and possibility makes her a trusted leader and a driving force behind Yamaha’s mission to elevate music education nationwide.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Journalism from the University of New Hampshire.

James has released a series of critically acclaimed recordings on his label Allos Documents, appears regularly on 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 magazine's Critics' and Readers' Polls, and was nominated as the Clarinetist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association. Educated at Northern Illinois University and New England Conservatory, James is a respected educator and scholar and has been on the faculty of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Deep Springs College, and was a fellow at The Center for Black Music Research. His research on the practice of improvisation has been presented at numerous academic conferences and to diverse audiences including Admirals at the US Naval War College and executives at Google’s creative retreats. James is presently the Associate Dean of Faculty and a Teaching Professor at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University.

As a lyric coloratura soprano, Danielle interprets a range of roles, including Händel’s Rodelinda, Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Serpina (La serva padrona), La Musique (Les plaisirs de Versailles), Josephine (HMS Pinafore), Olive Anne Beech (Staggerwing) as well as many newly commissioned contemporary roles. She is an avid concert soloist, from J.S. Bach to Beethoven and Verdi to Orff, while her recital programming highlights historically marginalized creatives. Dedicated to community education, Danielle founded and serves as the Artistic Director of OK City Opera. Danielle holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Oklahoma as well as two Masters of Music (Opera Performance; Music History/Literature) both from Wichita State University. www.danielleherrington.com / @elleherrington

An educator and SVI-trained vocologist, Emily earned a Fulbright Award (2022–2023) in the Netherlands and served on the voice faculty at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Currently, the Ellen P. Williams Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Bucknell Voice Lab, she integrates wellness, entrepreneurship, and innovation into her teaching. Learn more at emilymartincreative.com.

Hertzog’ research has been presented at numerous international conferences including the Jazz Education Network. Association for the Study of Higher Education, Association for Popular Music Education, and College Music Society. His research has been published in journals such as Artivate, and Jazz Education in Research and Practice, and Journal of Popular Music Education. In 2023, Hertzog was awarded a research grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (as PI) for his innovative music ecosystem research investigating the ways that collegiate jazz programs interact with jazz scenes in multiple cities. The results of multiple studies anticipated are in 2025-2026. www.jakehertzog.com

A pioneer in developing innovative models for music teaching and learning, Kaufman’s recent work includes creating a new music education festival that challenges traditional paradigms. The festival engages large ensemble students and teachers in collaborative composition as an experiment in democratic learning—one in which authority is shared, every voice carries equal weight, and students create with rather than compete against one another. Kaufman has presented his ideas and project outcomes on five continents at venues such as the United Nations, the Ford Foundation, Oxford University, and Yale University. He is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

As a performer, Nichol has performed nationally and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, winning first prize with the h2 quartet at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. He has premiered numerous new works and given recitals, masterclasses, and residencies across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Nichol’s students have received over 80 awards at national and international competitions, including prizes at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and the Adolphe Sax International Competition. In 2017, he was honored with the University of Oklahoma Distinguished Teaching Award.

Since 2022, he has led OU’s School of Music in developing strategic growth, securing NASM re-accreditation, guiding major fundraising efforts, and expanding academic programs—including a Commercial Music Minor (2025) and the Bachelor of Science in Music Industry, launching in 2026.

Dr. Nichol is a Yamaha and Vandoren Performing Artist.